Everyone left the theater asking the same thing. Where was Daisy? When The Super Mario Bros. Movie shattered box office records in 2023, fans of the sarasaland monarch felt a little bit snubbed. Peach was there, looking like a total powerhouse. Rosalina got a tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nod in the Luma department. But Daisy? Total radio silence.
It’s weird.
Actually, it's more than weird when you consider how much the fandom has rallied behind the "third princess" in recent years. For a long time, Daisy was just "Orange Peach" or the character you picked in Mario Kart because her "Hi I'm Daisy!" voice line was hilarious/annoying. But the demand for a Princess Daisy Mario movie appearance isn't just about representation; it’s about the lore.
The Sarasaland Gap: Why She Was Missing
Illumination and Nintendo had a massive task. They had to condense forty years of platforming history into a ninety-minute origin story. You can't just throw every character at the wall. If you add Daisy, you have to explain Sarasaland. If you explain Sarasaland, you have to explain Tatanga. Suddenly, the movie is three hours long and kids are falling asleep.
The first film focused heavily on the relationship between the brothers and Peach’s backstory as a lost human. It was a tight, emotional core. Adding another princess would have diluted Peach’s "only human in the Mushroom Kingdom" mystery. It makes sense from a narrative perspective, even if it hurts.
Honestly, though, Nintendo is playing the long game. They know we want her. They saw the reaction to her inclusion in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. They know she's a literal money printer for merchandise. Keeping her out of the first film creates a vacuum that the sequel almost has to fill.
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Breaking Down the Sequel Rumors
Let’s look at the facts. We know a sequel is coming. Shigeru Miyamoto basically confirmed it himself. While the internet is flooded with "leaks" that are usually just fan-fiction, there are a few logical paths that lead straight to Daisy.
- The World-Building Path: The first movie established the "Warp Zone" as a hub for many worlds. We saw the Mushroom Kingdom, the Jungle Kingdom, and the Snow Kingdom. Logically, the sequel needs to expand. Sarasaland is the most famous location not yet explored.
- The Luigi Connection: In the games, Luigi and Daisy have been a "thing" since the N64 era. In the first movie, Luigi spent most of his time in a cage. He needs a win. Giving Luigi a romantic interest or a bold, loud-mouthed counterpart would provide a perfect foil to his nervous personality.
- The Power-Up Potential: Daisy is traditionally more athletic and "tomboyish" than Peach. Imagine a scene where she shows the brothers how to use a Flower Medal or a specific Sarasaland power-up. It writes itself.
There is also a persistent theory that Daisy could be introduced as a rival. Not a villain, but a competitive ruler who thinks Peach is too soft. That kind of dynamic would be fresh. It would move away from the "save the princess" trope that the first movie already worked so hard to subvert.
What Nintendo Experts Say About Her Design
If you look at how Illumination redesigned Peach, they gave her more texture and a more "regal yet functional" wardrobe. If a Princess Daisy Mario movie design ever hits the big screen, experts expect a similar glow-up.
Character designers like those at Creative Bloq have noted that Daisy’s color palette—orange, yellow, and green—would pop incredibly well in Illumination’s high-contrast lighting style. Her floral motifs are also much more distinct than Peach’s hearts.
"Daisy represents a shift in how Nintendo handles female characters. She isn't just a palette swap anymore; she's an energy." — Common sentiment among the Mario fan community.
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There’s also the voice acting. Fans have been campaigning for everyone from Aubrey Plaza to Keke Palmer to voice the character. They need someone with high energy. Someone who can yell "Hi I'm Daisy!" and make it feel like a threat and a greeting at the same time.
Addressing the Live-Action Elephant in the Room
We can't talk about a Daisy movie appearance without mentioning 1993.
The original live-action Super Mario Bros. movie actually featured Daisy as the main lead, played by Samantha Mathis. In that version, she wasn't from Sarasaland; she was an NYU archaeology student who turned out to be a princess from a dimension where humans evolved from dinosaurs. It was... a choice.
Because that movie was such a critical flop, Nintendo spent decades being terrified of the big screen. The fact that Daisy was the lead in the "bad" movie might be one reason why they were hesitant to include her in the 2023 reboot. They wanted to distance themselves from the 90s era as much as possible. But time heals all wounds. Most younger fans don't even remember the dinosaur-dimension movie. They just want the spunky princess who can double-jump.
The Competitive Edge
Daisy is the queen of spin-offs. She has appeared in over 80 games, but almost zero mainline platformers until Wonder. This makes her the face of the "fun" side of Mario—the go-karts, the tennis matches, the parties.
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If the movie sequel leans into a "Grand Prix" subplot or a sporting event (which rumors suggest could happen to introduce more characters), Daisy is the natural choice to lead that charge. She brings a chaotic energy that Peach simply doesn't have. Peach is the diplomat; Daisy is the one who starts a fight at a formal dinner.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to track the potential of Daisy's cinematic debut, you need to watch specific markers.
- Watch Nintendo Directs: Look for any new Sarasaland-themed DLC or games. Nintendo usually aligns their game releases with movie marketing cycles now.
- Amiibo Trends: The price of Daisy Amiibos often spikes when movie rumors circulate. If you're a collector, grab the Super Smash Bros. or Super Mario series Daisy now before the sequel trailer drops.
- Voice Cast Announcements: Keep a close eye on casting calls for "Project Sky"—the rumored codename for the sequel. Any mention of a "tomboyish female lead" is a dead giveaway.
- Follow the Artists: Concept artists from Illumination often post "scrapped" work months after a movie comes out. Checking portfolios on ArtStation can sometimes reveal if Daisy was ever in the early drafts of the first film.
The reality is that Daisy is too big to ignore. She is the only major character left in the "core" roster who hasn't been given a cinematic voice. While we wait for the official trailer for the next installment, the best thing to do is keep the conversation loud. Nintendo listens to social media trends more than they used to.
Stay updated by following official Nintendo accounts and checking the production logs for Illumination Studios. The transition from game sprite to movie star is a long one, but for the Princess of Sarasaland, it feels inevitable. You've got to admit, seeing her interact with Bowser or Donkey Kong would be absolute gold. It's not a matter of if, but when.
The next step is simple: keep an eye on the 2026 release schedule for any teasers regarding the broader Nintendo Cinematic Universe.